Supposedly Weak and Anemic Rounds

During my most recent range session, I tried out my most recent acquisition, an german made Arminius 7-shot revolver chambered in .32 S&W long. While any attempt to double tap with my CZ-75 or even .38 Special S&W Model 67 results in dismal accuracy on the second shot, I found that I was able to fire off controlled pairs using the weak and anemic .32 S&W long at a target 25 meters away. Hence, even though the 98gr wadcutter load I was shooting only clocked 730ft/s at the muzzle, there has got to be some advantage in being able to achieve 5.9 inch groups under rapid fire conditions.

Do any of you guys have similar handgun and weak cartridge combinations that y'all would be confident of being able to maintain good to excellent accuracy on a consistent basis?

I have attached two of my better groupings for the day. What do you guys think?

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Bovice

February 11, 2013, 02:55 AM

I can shoot pretty darn good (and fast) pairs with a .45, but I'm young and strong as an ox. It also has to do with my familiarity and personal fit with the guns I have. Perhaps the CZ isn't the gun for you. Also, if you aren't practicing with the DA pull, your first controlled pair will be terrible.

Centurian22

February 11, 2013, 04:09 AM

Very nice work. I also have a .32S&W Long revolver that is quite accurate. I just need to play with it some more now that I reload for it. Are you shooting commercial or reloads? If reloads do you mind sharing the recipe?

Tired_and_hungry

February 11, 2013, 04:38 AM

To Centurian:

The 98gr load in the link below is what I shoot. The government of the Asian country I am based forbids reloading.

http://www.lapua.com/en/products/sport-shooting/centerfire-handgun/26

but at $0.29/round, it's pretty affordable.

BCRider

February 11, 2013, 12:45 PM

The other thought is that you "fit" revolvers better than semi auto guns. Have you tried a .38Spl revolver such as the classic Model 10? When shooting normal .38Spl the recoil is pleasantly light and conducive to well placed double taps or even putting a whole cylinder into a decent size group under rapid fire.

My IDPA group has this clamshell target that they are real proud of. When activated it flips up a threat target followed by a no-shoot about 3/4 of a second later. With my K framed 66 I managed to get off 3 rounds on the target before I had to pull the fourth out and shoot past the rising no-shoot. The first three all hit in the -0 or -1 spot a couple of times. Some other tries I wasn't quite as lucky. But I didn't have a lot of trouble getting 3 shots off in the 3/4 second exposure time. The ammo I was shooting was my own reloads that are up close to max for .38Spl and the 124 gn bullet I was using.

AethelstanAegen

February 11, 2013, 01:35 PM

So I generally carry a 1911 because I shoot well with it, it's heavy hitting, and it conceals well. However, it's also wicked heavy...so when I'm going somewhere low-threat and I don't want to be carting around this heavy (albeit effective) pistol, I carry an old S&W Safety Hammerless in .38 S&W (not the same as .38 Special). It's relatively anemic but I'm sure in a pinch it would work well and with the low recoil, I can get off all five shots quite quickly and with high degree of accuracy, which certainly should work for most circumstances. I guess it all comes back to the age old caliber wars (shot placement vs stopping power, etc).

Cosmoline

February 11, 2013, 01:43 PM

My old Walther PP was very nice in the hand, had almost no recoil and was extremely accurate. It was one of the few handguns I've felt confident enough with to hip-shoot at targets.

I eventually traded it off for more power, but over the years I'm coming back around to the conclusion that all usable CCW handguns are inherently weak.

Wishoot

February 11, 2013, 04:09 PM

CZ82 with pretty much any 9x18 load. I swear you could hit the nuts off a squirrel dizzy and half asleep with that thing.

ArchAngelCD

February 11, 2013, 04:46 PM

Do any of you guys have similar handgun and weak cartridge combinations that y'all would be confident of being able to maintain good to excellent accuracy on a consistent basis?
This is why many shooters will shoot .38 Special ammo in a short barrel .357 Magnum revolver, controllable follow-up shots. It's a known fact most times when you deal with less recoil recovery time back on target is lessened.

I always laugh
New guy gets his CCW and goes in search of a pocket cannon

Or the dreaded
"What gun for my XXXXXX (mom, girlfriend, wife...)"

and there is the suggestion for the plastic hand cannon, or the airweight revolver

Don't people understand that HITTING what you shoot at is important?

I'll take my P32 over any airweight .357 or SC .40 or 45

Jim K

February 11, 2013, 09:57 PM

You are supposed to hit something? What a radical idea! I always thought the idea in a self-defense scenario was that you had the biggest, loudest, gun made and when you touched off a round somewhere in the general direction of the bad guy, a wall collapsed and the building fell on him. Or the blast was so severe that he fainted from the shock.

But actually hitting? Never heard of that. ;)

Jim

blkbrd666

February 11, 2013, 10:27 PM

german made Arminius 7-shot revolver chambered in .32 S&W long

Wow! I thought I was the only person with an Arminius revolver.

solvability

February 11, 2013, 10:38 PM

My suggestion is practice your shooting with the CZ75 until you get better -the 32 is not as good as the 9mm and you have the option to switch.:)

ZeSpectre

February 11, 2013, 10:49 PM

When it comes to "precision" shooting, especially with handguns, I have two targets that I love to use to torment my friends and myself.

#1) The Evil Balloon Challenge
This requires the ability to make a minute adjustment of your aim for each shot. It looks easy but I know people who can repeat a shot over and over and produce a quarter sized group who get completely thrown by the small side-to-side motion this target requires.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/RIA_Balloon.jpg
So far my only perfect scores with this target have been using a .22LR pistol

#2) Save the Train (aka the dynamite target)
Another shot that applies pressure by requiring you to shoot out the "fuze" without hitting the "dynamite".
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b66/zespectre/Challenges_07_A.jpg
My best "perfect" scores with this have been with a .45ACP, but the load was a powder-puff target load <grin> but as you can see, I also do alright with a CZ75B chambered for .40S&W

MagicD

February 11, 2013, 11:05 PM

Solid frame .32s like S&W 31 do fine with significantly more serious loads than
factory.
85 and 100 gr XTPs or cast boolets up to 115 gr(Lazer cast) do 850 fps+
with Unique ,VV 340, or W231.

The Lazercast is a real penetrator and one shot small game load. In a pinch its nothing to sneeze at if you run into something more threatening on a woods walk or Run into other nasties.

leeggen

February 11, 2013, 11:56 PM

Iver Johnson 32 on 38 frame. Wife picked it up sat and shot 5 in a 3' orange dot at 15yd. She hasn't shaot a hand gun in 15 yr. I locked it up so when she gets mad at me I won't have to hide. just joking about that last part. Love that little gun. Can shoot 100 yd. and still puunch a hole in a car door.

303tom

February 12, 2013, 12:36 AM

There is nothing wrong with the .32 caliber, I have several but my fav. is my Ruger in .327 mag. & with 8 rds. it is a lot of fire power in a revolver..............

chris in va

February 12, 2013, 02:56 AM

The CZ75 has a DA/SA transition. Try thumbing the hammer back next time.

HB

February 12, 2013, 05:55 AM

Nowhere does the OP mention self defense... try a smith and wesson 41 with a red dot on a NRA Bulleseye course sometime. Hell of a lot easier than shooting it with the .45!

I've never got a chance to fire the .32 cal target pistols designed for Olympic style shooting but I'm sure with a 1.5 lb trigger, ergonomic grips, and light recoil it be quite fun (which 90% of my shooting is geared towards).

HB

AirForceShooter

February 12, 2013, 10:18 AM

The wife has a 327 mag.
Shoots 32 short, 32 long, 32 mag, 327 mag.

For the range she shoots the 32 long. She can shoot a 4 " group at 25 yards all day long.

Move up to the 327 and her groups open up.

Over all it's a fun gun that can be used for SD.

AFS

Shadow 7D

February 12, 2013, 08:40 PM

Love me some .32 too, nothing like a 85Grns of FMJ 7.62x25 and the fireball....

dmurdach

February 12, 2013, 08:49 PM

Better this gun in hand than any other in a safe. Maybe not the most powerful round, but I bet very few would want to stand in front of that target.

wlewisiii

February 12, 2013, 09:51 PM

I dearly love shooting my Mauser HSc - 8+1 .32 ACP. It's far more accurate than I am & a .32 will still mess someones day up. Normal days it's my EDC. If I feel the need, I've got a 625 Mountain Gun in .45 colt but, really, the .32 will do the job as long as I do mine.

jimbo555

February 13, 2013, 09:46 AM

In my opinion,the current crop of mini 9mm pistols make all 32 and 380 handguns obsolete.Unless you are disabled,you should be able to handle a kahr pm9,ruger lc9 keltec pf9 etc. And 7+1 of 9mm will be much more effective than any 32.Put yourself in a life or death situation and decide!

Bikewer

February 13, 2013, 11:59 AM

I was always amazed at the accuracy and reliablilty of my old Ruger MK1 target model in .22 LR...
But I wouldn't want it as a defensive pistol.

Remember that the ability to shoot tight little groups on a range might well evaporate under the stresses of combat.

Certaindeaf

February 13, 2013, 12:42 PM

The .38 wadcutter will displace/remove a lot of meat/bone.

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